Grantmaking

Mini-grants are available for:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
  • Assessment, consulting, and policy development
• Operational enhancements
  • Fiscal systems
  • Human resources
  • Organizational assessments
  • Policies and procedures
  • Program development and evaluation
• Planning
  • Communications
  • Resource development
  • Strategic
  • Succession
  • Technology
• Professional development
  • Executive coaching
  • Conferences, seminars, and training

Prior to submitting a Letter of Inquiry via the Grants Portal, organizations are encouraged to contact Jennifer Killian, Program Officer to discuss your organization’s eligibility and capacity-building project.

Mini-grants will fund up to 80% of the total cost of a consultancy or training, with a maximum award of $15,000, and require a 20% match from the organization. Applicants may include overhead costs (up to 15% of the budget), but not staff time, on the project budget. Organizations are generally limited to one mini-grant per calendar year, which can be awarded concurrently with general operating or designated Dyson Foundation funding.

Mini-Grant Criteria

• New and emerging organizations yet to establish formal programming or funder/community support are not eligible for mini-grant funding.
• Organizations with operating budgets greater than $20 million are generally not eligible for mini-grant funding.
• Organizations serving the whole of New York State are not eligible for mini-grant funding.
• Mini-Grants cannot be used for direct professional services (i.e. architectural design, grant writing, web design), training as required for organizational licensing or professional certification, or projects already in progress.

While not required for mini-grant funding, organizations may benefit from discussing their training and consulting needs with the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), which offers many of these services. Organizations considering any consultant engagement may find How to Hire a Consultant (PDF) helpful.

Although the Dyson Foundation does not recommend consultants, we are happy to provide consultant suggestions for organizations to explore.

Mini-implementation Grants

Following the completion of a mini-grant funded consultancy or training, grantees may apply for a follow-up mini-implementation grant of up to $3,000 to cover the costs of enacting the results or recommendations of the project (including continued consulting, marketing materials, web design, etc.). Grantees interested in applying for mini-implementation funds should first contact Jennifer Killian, Program Officer.

Mid-Hudson Valley 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are outside of the Dyson Foundation’s mini-grant funding guidelines may contact NYCON’s Hudson Valley Regional Office to inquire about limited, no-cost technical assistance resources available in the region.